Tuesday, October 17, 2017

Thank you BYU radio for interviewing our wonderful curator of herpetology, Dr. Jack Sites! In this interview, Julie Rose and Dr. Sites talk about the ancient snake, Titanoboa, and how it compares to modern snakes. Follow the link to listen to the interview, and be sure and check out the Titanoboa exhibit at the Bean Museum, coming December 16th!

Wednesday, October 11, 2017

Everyone loves to eat! We were lucky enough to join Tom Smith as he led us around BYU campus, collecting and trying different edible plants. We had quite the group, thirty happy participants (and a few young adventurers) come out to discover what amazing and delicious plants could be identified and used.

We started off in the lab, where Tom gave us acorn flour cookies and explained the plan for the morning. We walked along the trail on the south side of campus, stopping every couple feet to learn about a new plant and it's delicious and nutritious roots/leaves/berries/blossoms. Most of the plants were familiar, but were brought into a new light during this Experienceship. A few of the plants we enjoyed included yew berries (which have a poisonous pit, but a very sweet fruit), elderberries, black walnuts, prickly pear, wild strawberry, and even basil and kale!

After our morning walk, Tom led us back to the lab where he prepared some samples made from wild plants and fungi. The spread was amazing, including alder smoked salmon (caught and smoked by Tom on his last trip to Alaska), acorn flour bread, Oregon grape jelly, and a wild mushroom soup. Everyone learned so much and were very appreciative of everything Tom shared with us.

If you want more information on wild edible plants, consider reading Euell Gibbons', Stalking the Wild Asparagus or contact Monte L Bean Life Science Museum for more information. And remember, never eat any plants unless you are as sure it is as safe as eating a plant you bought from the grocery store.

The Bean Museum

"The Monte L. Bean Life Science Museum at Brigham Young University is a dynamic repository and trustee for a remarkable group of biological collections. These collections are used to celebrate the role of Jesus Christ as Creator, while enhancing student learning and mentoring and promoting faculty teaching and research. They also serve as a unique venue for inviting the public and scientific community to explore and contemplate intricate biological relationships and processes."

You can also visit us HERE:

Recurring Events:

Discovery Reading: Thurs. 11:00am

LIVE ANIMAL SHOWS!!!

Visit the Bean Museum website (mlbean.byu.edu) to schedule a free in-house live animal show, or come to one of our public shows - weeknights at 7:30 PM (Mondays @ 6:30 & 7:30 PM) and Saturdays at 1 PM and 3 PM. Click the image above to see our current show schedule!